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Obama’s Climate Change Legacy

In his second Inaugural Address, President Obama set the stage for a renewed course of action on energy and climate change. The path going forward won't be easy, but the President's statement affirms that climate change remains a front and center priority of this Administration.

by Anne Kelly, Senior Program Director, Policy and BICEP Program
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CeresPosted on Jan 24, 2013

“We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” - President Barack Obama, January 21, 2013

In his second Inaugural Address, President Obama set the stage for a renewed course of action on energy and climate change. The path going forward won't be easy, but the President's statement affirms that climate change remains a front and center priority of this Administration.

The companies of BICEP stand with the President in his call to respond to the threat of climate change. Through these key strategies, the President can insure his climate change legacy:

Reduce Greenhouse Gas EmissionsThe Clean Air Act gives the President the authority and responsibility to set new carbon rules for power plants. These job-generating standards will create new economic opportunities, new clean energy jobs and help us to meet the carbon pollution targets wisely set by the Administration back in 2009.

Promote Energy EfficiencyEnergy efficiency should not be “the fifth fuel” – but the first. Reducing our need for energy is the smartest way to reduce pollution while saving money. Energy efficiency has bi-partisan support in Congress. Building a smart grid and advancing new technologies that help businesses and consumers monitor their energy will set a new bar for energy efficiency.

Link Extreme Weather & Climate DisruptionConnect the dots between carbon pollution and extreme weather, and lead the public discussion of what we need to do as a nation to both prepare for the changes in climate that are no longer avoidable and avoid those changes that are preventable by investing in our nation’s infrastructure and building more resilient cities and communities.

Reject Dirty FuelsClimate science tells us that 80 percent of existing fossil fuel reserves need to be kept in the ground in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. This means that we, as a nation, need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, and invest more in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

Malia and Sasha are not the only ones who will one day thank the President for taking this courageous course of action. Smart businesses that have long understood the need for the transition to a clean energy economy will be the first to applaud his efforts. The leading businesses of BICEP will go a step further, using their muscle to lead the charge.